Best freeze-dried dog treats 2026: Test winner
Freeze-dried dog treats retain the natural meat flavor and nutrients of the raw product without the need for refrigeration or thawing. This comparison shows which freeze-dried varieties are best suited for which dog and which purpose in 2026.
- Meatlies beef is the best freeze-dried dog treat choice in 2026 for daily use with no known intolerance.
- Meatlie's horse and meatlie's kangaroo are suitable as novel proteins for food allergies and exclusion diets.
- Feedlies Venison with Potato works as a BARF topper with extra energy from potato.
- Chicken Hearts Dry Barf Freeze-Dried provides organ meat without a cold chain for the BARF ration.
- Feedlies duck with potato is the mildest option for puppies and dogs with sensitive stomachs.
Why this matters
Freeze-dried is not the same as air-dried or jerky. Freeze-drying involves removing the water from the raw meat at low temperatures, while jerky strips and jerky are dried with heat. The result: a treat that stays close to the raw product, has a long shelf life and can be stored without a refrigerator.
This is exactly what makes freeze-dried dog treats the preferred choice for owners who feed BARF or are specifically looking for individual proteins for an exclusion diet in 2026. The article on the shelf life of freeze-dried dog treats after opening explains in detail how long an opened package actually lasts.
The difference between the varieties is rarely in the drying process itself, but in the protein source and the list of ingredients. Cattle, horses, kangaroos, deer, ducks and chickens react differently to dogs - so it's worth taking a look at the specific purpose before buying a variety.
"A treat is only a good choice if the meat content, bite size and tolerance suit your own dog."
Best overall choice 2026: Meatlies beef. Best for Exclusion Diets and Food Allergies: Meatlie's Horse. Best for weight management: Meatlie's kangaroo. Best for small workout bites: Meatlie's deer. Best as a BARF topper: Feedlies venison with potato. Best for sensitive puppies: Feedlies Duck with Potato. Best for offal fans: Chicken hearts dry barf freeze-dried.
What Makes the Best Freeze-Dried Dog Treats
- Single protein or a short, clearly declared list of ingredients
- Meat content as close to 100% as possible, without grains or fillers
- Gentle freeze-drying instead of heat drying to preserve nutrients
- Suitability for exclusion diets in case of known food allergies
- Bite size suitable for the respective purpose, from training to BARF topping
- Clear information on shelf life after opening the package
Freeze-dried dog treats 2026 at a glance
| Product | Best for | specificity | limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meatlies Rind | Everyday life without known intolerance | Single protein beef, grain-free | Beef is one of the most common allergy triggers |
| Meatlies Horse | Exclusion diet, food allergy | Novel-Protein, fettarm | Stronger smell of its own |
| Meatlies Känguru | Weight Management | Naturally lean meat | For some dogs, the taste is unusual |
| Meatlies Hirsch | Training | Small, portionable pieces | Amount of meat adds up with frequent training |
| Feedlies Venison with Potato | BARF-Topper | Meat plus potatoes for energy | Unsuitable for carbohydrate exclusion |
| Feedlies Duck with Potato | Puppies, sensitive stomach | Mildly tolerated poultry | Not in case of poultry intolerance |
| Chicken Hearts Dried Barf Freeze-Dried | Organ meat fans in the BARF ration | Dimensionally stable without a cold chain | Intense smell |
1. Meatlies beef: best overall freeze-dried dog treats
Meatlies Beef is a single-protein treat made from freeze-dried beef with no grains and no additives. It delivers the classic balance between high meat content and neutral flavor that most dogs tolerate well.
Meatlies Rind Pro:
- Single protein without grains and without additives
- Fits almost any feeding schedule, even next to BARF
- Dry, light structure is suitable for training bags
Meatlies Rind Contra:
- Beef is one of the most common triggers of food allergies in dogs
- No substitute for a full meal
Meatlies Beef Conclusion: Buy - the standard choice 2026 for healthy dogs with no known beef intolerance.
2. Meatlies horse: best freeze-dried dog treats for exclusion diets
Horse meat is one of the rarely fed sources of protein and is therefore often used in exclusion diets. Meatlie's horse consists of freeze-dried horse meat without any other ingredients and is suitable for dogs that have already reacted to beef, chicken or lamb.
Meatlies Horse Pro:
- Novel protein, rarely cross-reactions with common food allergies
- Lower in fat than many other red meats
- One-ingredient snack, transparently declared
Meatlies Pferd Contra:
- Introduction in case of confirmed food allergy should be coordinated with the veterinarian
- Slightly stronger smell than beef or chicken
Meatlie's horse conclusion: buyif an exclusion diet or food intolerance is in the room.
3. Meatlie's kangaroo: best freeze-dried dog treats for weight management
Kangaroo is naturally leaner than most domestic meats and therefore provides less fat per bite. Meatlie's kangaroo gets to the heart of this ratio in freeze-dried form, without you having to do without a meat treat.
Meatlies Känguru Pro:
- Naturally lean meat, calorie-conscious
- Novel protein for dogs with multiple intolerances
- Pure single protein without additives
Meatlies Känguru Contra:
- Less common, unusual in taste for some dogs
- No filling – if you are overweight, the amount of training is what counts most
Meatlies Kangaroo Conclusion: Buy for overweight or protein-sensitive dogs, testing in small quantities at first dose.
4. Meatlies deer: best freeze-dried dog treats for training
For training sessions, the most important thing is the size of the bite and how quickly the dog processes the snack. Meatlies Hirsch supplies small, freeze-dried pieces of deer meat that are easy to portion.
Meatlies Hirsch Pro:
- Small, easy-to-portion pieces for training
- Wild as a novel protein for existing intolerances
- Pure from meat, no fillers
Meatlies Hirsch Contra:
- With very frequent training, the amount of meat quickly adds up
- Not for dogs with known game meat intolerance
Meatlie's Deer Conclusion: Buy for workout routines with lots of small rewards.
5. Feedlies venison with potato: best freeze-dried dog treats as BARF toppers
Unlike the pure meatlies varieties, Feedlies combines venison with potato meat with a carbohydrate source. This makes it a suitable supplement if you want to round off a BARF ration or give extra energy between meals.
Feedlies Deer with Potato Pro:
- Combination of meat and potatoes provides extra energy
- Freeze-dried, making it long-lasting without refrigeration
- Well suited as an addition to a self-compiled BARF ration
Feedlies Venison with Potato Cons:
- Unsuitable for pure exclusion diets without carbohydrates
- No single protein – do not give if you are intolerant to potatoes
Feedlies Venison with Potato Conclusion: Buy as a BARF supplement, skip for carbohydrate exclusion diets.
6. Feedlies duck with potato: best freeze-dried dog treats for puppies
Duck is considered a mildly tolerated meat and is often used for young or digestive sensitive dogs. Feedlies Duck with Potato brings this meat in freeze-dried form with potato as an additional source of energy.
Feedlies Duck with Potato Pro:
- Duck is well tolerated by many sensitive dogs
- Potato provides additional, easily digestible energy
- Small portion sizes are suitable for young dogs
Feedlies Duck with Potato Cons:
- Do not use in case of confirmed poultry intolerance
- Contains potato – not carb-free
Feedlies Duck with Potato Conclusion: Buy for puppies and stomach-sensitive dogs, testing at first dose.
7. Chicken hearts dry barf freeze-dried: best freeze-dried dog treats for offal fans
Chicken hearts are among the most nutrient-rich offal and are specifically used as an organ meat component in BARF feeding. In freeze-dried form, they remain dimensionally stable and can be fed directly without thawing.
Chicken Hearts Dry Barf Freeze-Dried Pro:
- Organ meat content can be fed without a cold chain
- Single protein, clearly declared
- Fits directly into a balanced BARF ration
Chicken hearts dry barf freeze-dried Cons:
- Intense smell that not every owner finds pleasant
- Should not be the only organ meat source of a BARF ration
Chicken Hearts Dry Barf Freeze-Dried Conclusion: Buy for keepers who feed BARF and want to supplement organ meat in a targeted manner.
This is how the ranking was created
Each variety was tested against the above criteria: meat content, ingredient list, drying process, suitability for exclusion diets, bite size and shelf life after opening. Single-protein varieties such as the Meatlies series score well in exclusion diets, the feedlies varieties with potatoes in energy requirements and BARF supplementation.
Which freeze-dried dog treats should you choose?
For uncomplicated everyday life without known intolerances, Meatlies Beef is the right standard choice for 2026. If you have a food allergy or are on an exclusion diet, switch to Meatlies Horse or Meatlies Kangaroo. If you feed BARF and want to supplement the ration, you can use Feedlies Venison with Potato or the Chicken Hearts Dry Barffreeze-dried. Masterfeed carries all these varieties grain-free and without additives.
Discover freeze-dried treats
Compare all Masterfeed varieties by protein source and intended use.
FAQ
What are freeze-dried dog treats?
Freeze-dried dog treats are pieces of meat that have been dehydrated at low temperatures instead of being dried with heat. As a result, they retain more of the natural nutrient profile of raw meat than classic jerky.
Are freeze-dried treats better than dried or jerky snacks?
Freeze-dried treats lose fewer nutrients than heat-dried jerky varieties during the gentle process. Both variants are suitable for daily use, while freeze-dried products score points in exclusion diets due to their short list of ingredients.
Can freeze-dried treats replace a BARF ration?
No, freeze-dried treats like meatlies or feedlies are meant to be a snack or topper, not a full meal. A balanced BARF ration also needs muscle meat, organs and, if necessary, vegetable components.
Which freeze-dried treat is suitable for food allergy?
Meatlie's horse and meatlie's kangaroo are considered novel proteins with a low risk of cross-reactions to beef, chicken or lamb. The introduction in the event of a confirmed allergy should nevertheless be coordinated with the veterinarian.
Are freeze-dried dog treats suitable for puppies?
Yes, mild varieties such as Feedlies Duck with Potato are usually well tolerated by young and stomach-sensitive dogs. For the first dose, a small amount is recommended to check the tolerability.
Do I need to soak freeze-dried treats before feeding?
No, freeze-dried treats can be fed directly from the package. If you want, you can soften pieces briefly in warm water, for example for dogs that chew badly.
How many freeze-dried treats can my dog get daily?
As a guideline, treats should not make up more than about 10 percent of the daily ration. For meat-only snacks such as meatlie's beef, count the amount against the dog's daily ration.
How long do freeze-dried dog treats last after opening?
Unopened, freeze-dried treats last for several months without refrigeration, after opening the shelf life is shortened depending on storage. Details on this can be found in the separate article on the shelf life of freeze-dried treats after opening.
One last thing
Many owners give freeze-dried treats pure from the package, and pieces such as meatlies beef or chicken hearts dried barf can also be softened briefly in warm water. This becomes a kind of BARF topping paste – practical for dogs that chew poorly or drink little, and an easy way to add more liquid to the feed in 2026.
